Telecom firms seek clarity on GST on value added services: ASSOCHAM

Telecom firms seek clarity on Goods and Services Tax on value added services. Some VSA such as ringtones are taken as entertainment under certain states 'entertainment tax laws' and are therefore subjected to taxation.

We all know that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill is pending in the Parliament and in the hope that the GST Bill will be passed in the soon, the telecom industry has attempted to find that the government comes out with a clear position with regard to levy of taxes on value added services (VAS). The ASSOCHAM-KPMG papers read, “Given the broad framework of GST, it is expected that even under the proposed GST regime, the telecom service providers may face significant challenges. For the first time , both the centre and state governments will have powers to tax services… The proposed GST law should support the government’s overall initiative of ease of doing business and offer a simplified tax regime to telecom service providers” .

Some Value added services such as ringtones are taken as entertainment under certain states ‘entertainment tax laws’ and are therefore subjected to taxation. “Since the service tax is also liable on the revenue generated from rendering such services, there is a dual levy in the form of service tax and entertainment tax.”

“The government should clarify the applicable tax on such value added services. This would help move the industry move seamlessly to the GST, adding to the dynamic growth of the sector,” said ASSOCHAM Secretary General D.S. Rawat.

The KPMG, in its note said: “The growth of the sector is highly dependent on a forward looking policy and regulatory environment that fosters investment, innovation and productivity. However, the industry is grappling with a number of challenges around complexity in policy, regulatory and taxation framework that impacts implantation of well-intentioned ideas.”

The paper said the GST law should provide clear and comprehensive provisions with respect to coverage of telecom services for providing clarity of levy of taxes on VAS, infrastructure sharing and e-commerce transactions, since these transactions could have different treatment under GST. It also said clear and specific place of supply rules should be notified for telecom services, specifically for pre-paid services, business-to-business transactions, business-to-customer transactions, mobile wallet and VAS.

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